After Kai Havertz deal, Mikel Arteta should now target £32m Chelsea player in January

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal certainly haven’t been against signing players from Chelsea since Mikel Arteta arrived at the club back in 2019.

Since he replaced Unai Emery as manager, Arsenal have signed Willian, Jorginho and Kai Havertz from their London rivals.

And when you consider that Petr Cech and David Luiz also arrived at Arsenal from Chelsea in the years that preceded Arteta, it’s now a well trodden path.

The players mentioned have certainly had mixed success, with perhaps just Jorginho and Havertz left as the possible success stories.

That being said, it could now be time for Arsenal to revisit their West London neighbours once again.

Despite holding interest in the likes of Matthijs De Ligt, The Athletic revealed today that Arsenal would be looking to loan a player on a short-term basis in January.

As was the case last season, the club will show a preference to do their most serious business in the summer.

And with the arrival of a defender now looking crucial in January, Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen could be an excellent option.

Pep Guardiola is said to be interested in taking the 21-year-old to Manchester City, such was the promise he showed at Burnley.

And it would certainly be a good idea for Arsenal to pip City to the left-back.

Mikel Arteta should consider a loan move for Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen to Arsenal

Chelsea were willing to let Maatsen leave the club in the summer, agreeing a £32m deal with Burnley – only for the defender to choose to stay.

And with Arsenal now desperate for further quality at full-back after injuries to Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu, Chelsea’s Maatsen could be a great option for Arteta.

The Dutch defender has a ton of attacking qualities, a player very strong in possession.

And with doubts once again emerging over Oleksandr Zinchenko’s defending at Liverpool, Maatsen could be great competition.

It remains to be seen if Chelsea would be willing to sanction a loan deal in January, particularly to a rival.

However, if Arsenal were to include a buy-option it might sweeten a deal.

Chelsea do seem intent on continuing to refresh their playing staff, and Maatsen simply isn’t playing a key role even with Marc Cucurella and Ben Chilwell injured.

Of course, that’s not to say the Chelsea defender couldn’t be of use to Arteta at Arsenal.

The club are often linked to Jeremie Frimpong at right-back, a very offensive-minded option.

And perhaps Arteta could invert his plans to add a similar option to Arsenal’s left-side in January.